US expects to shift blame for using chemical weapons in Ukraine on Russia

The United States is hoping to avoid an effective probe into a provocation with the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine that it has been preparing and is planning to shift the blame for the incident on Russia, Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov, the chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, said on Tuesday.

"They (the United States and their accomplices - TASS) expect that amid the fighting the international community will not be able to launch an effective investigation, as a result of which the real organizers and perpetrators could escape responsibility, while the blame would be shifted on Russia," he explained at a briefing.

Kirillov assured that those behind provocations with the use of toxins against the Russian side would be identified and punished.

According to him, Russia has labs at its disposal that make it possible to identify the country of origin of such chemicals. Also, stationary and mobile facilities for radiation, chemical and biological monitoring active in the zone of the special military operation provide for the exposure of chemical threats and timely response measures, Kirillov added.